Voting Rights
FEDERAL COURT CLEARS THE WAY FOR MALDEF’S VOTING RIGHTS LAWSUIT AGAINST PASADENA, TEXAS TO MOVE TO TRIAL
HOUSTON, TX – A federal judge today ruled that a lawsuit challenging changes to the City of Pasadena’s voting system will head to trial. U.S. District Court Judge Lee H. Rosenthal’s decision comes nearly two years after MALDEF first sued Pasadena on behalf of five Hispanic residents when city officials moved to replace the eight single-member voting districts with a hybrid system that includes two at-large seats. The lawsuit argues the new system seeks to dilute Hispanic voting strength.
MALDEF DEMANDS VICTOR VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT CHANGE ITS AT-LARGE BOARD ELECTION SYSTEM
VICTORVILLE, CA – Today, MALDEF sent a letter to the Board President and Superintendent of the Victor Valley Union High School District (“Victor Valley UHSD”), demanding that the system for electing members to the Board of Trustees be changed to comply with the California Voting Rights Act (“CVRA”). Victor Valley UHSD currently elects trustees using an at-large method, which has denied Latino residents the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the Board of Trustees. MALDEF demands that the District convert to a by-district election system.
MALDEF DEMANDS CITY OF MONROVIA CHANGE ITS AT-LARGE ELECTION SYSTEM
MONROVIA, CA – Today, MALDEF sent a letter to the Mayor of Monrovia and the Monrovia City Council, demanding that the system for electing members to the city council be changed to comply with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The City currently elects council members using an at-large method, which has denied Latino residents the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the City Council. MALDEF demands that the City convert to a by-district election system.
MALDEF DEMANDS CITY OF CHINO HILLS CHANGE ITS AT-LARGE ELECTION SYSTEM
CHINO HILLS, CA – Today, MALDEF sent a letter to the Mayor of Chino Hills and the Chino Hills City Council, demanding that the system for electing members to the city council be changed to comply with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The City currently elects council members using an at-large method, which has denied Latino residents the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the City Council. MALDEF demands that the City convert to a by-district election system.
MALDEF DEMANDS CITY OF REDLANDS CHANGE ITS AT-LARGE ELECTION SYSTEM
REDLANDS, CA – Today, MALDEF sent a letter to the Mayor of Redlands and the Redlands City Council, demanding that the system for electing members to the city council be changed to comply with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The City currently elects council members using an at-large method, which has denied Latino residents the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the City Council. MALDEF demands that the City convert to a by-district election system.
MALDEF DEMANDS CITY OF RIALTO CHANGE ITS AT-LARGE ELECTION SYSTEM
RIALTO, CA – Today, MALDEF sent a letter to the Mayor of Rialto and the Rialto City Council, demanding that the system for electing members to the city council be changed to comply with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The City currently elects council members using an at-large method, which has denied Latino and African American residents the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the City Council. MALDEF demands that the City convert to a by-district election system.
MALDEF DEMANDS SEQUOIA UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT CHANGE ITS AT-LARGE BOARD ELECTION SYSTEM
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Today, MALDEF sent a letter to the Board President and Superintendent of the Sequoia Union High School District (“Sequoia UHSD”), demanding that the system for electing members of the board of trustees be changed to comply with the California Voting Rights Act (“CVRA”). Sequoia UHSD currently elects trustees using an at-large method, which has denied Latino residents the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the Board of Trustees. MALDEF demands the election system be changed to a district-based system.
MALDEF SUES KERN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR VIOLATING FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT
BAKERSFIELD, CA – Today, MALDEF filed suit against the Kern County, California Board of Supervisors, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, for violating Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. The suit, filed on behalf of Latino citizens of Kern County, challenges Kern County’s 2011 redistricting plan for unlawfully diluting the Latino vote and effectively preventing Latinos from meaningful participation in Board of Supervisors elections.
MALDEF JOINS FORCES WITH GOLDSTEIN, BORGEN, DARDARIAN & HO TO DEMAND CITY OF EASTVALE CHANGE ITS UNLAWFUL AT-LARGE ELECTION SYSTEM
EASTVALE, CA – Today, MALDEF and the law firm of Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian, & Ho sent a letter to the Mayor of Eastvale and the Eastvale City Council, demanding that the system for electing members to the city council be changed to comply with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The City currently elects council members using an at-large method, which has denied Latino residents the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the City Council. MALDEF and Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian, & Ho demand that the City convert to a by-district election system.
MALDEF ACCLAIMS SUPREME COURT DECISION ENDING RIGHT-WING ASSAULT ON LATINO VOTING POWER
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision upholding the long-standing and ubiquitous practice of equalizing electoral districts based on total population. The ruling came in a case, Evenwel v. Abbott, challenging the use of total population under the “one person, one vote” doctrine. This Fourteenth Amendment equal protection doctrine is what triggers the redrawing of electoral districts at the state and local level after each Census – to restore population equality among districts.
MALDEF DEMANDS LAWNDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT CHANGE ITS UNLAWFUL AT-LARGE BOARD ELECTION SYSTEM
LAWNDALE, CA – Today, MALDEF sent a letter to the Board President and Superintendent of the Lawndale Elementary School District (“Lawndale ESD”), demanding that the system for electing members of the board of trustees be changed to comply with the California Voting Rights Act (“CVRA”). Lawndale ESD currently elects trustees using an at-large method, which has denied Latino residents the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the Board of Trustees. MALDEF demands the election system be changed to a district-based system.
MALDEF AND CITY OF PLACENTIA REACH AGREEMENT ON PROCESS TO PROVIDE LATINOS EQUAL VOTING POWER
PLACENTIA, CA – Today, MALDEF and the City of Placentia reached an agreement on how to proceed with providing Latinos equal voting power, without going to court. The agreement calls for a host of actions to be taken by the Placentia City Council, including placing a Charter Amendment Measure on a statewide general or special election ballot that will convert the current at-large election system to one that is district-based. The new system would require that district lines be established by ordinance, and become effective for elections in November 2018 and thereafter.
FALLBROOK PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT SETTLES MALDEF VOTING RIGHTS SUIT
MALDEF DEMANDS THAT THE CITY OF PLACENTIA CHANGE ITS UNLAWFUL AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL ELECTION SYSTEM
PLACENTIA, CA – Today, MALDEF sent a letter to the City of Placentia, demanding that it convert its at-large elections system to a district-based system that affords Latino voters an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the Placentia City Council, in accordance with the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (“CVRA”). Placentia’s population is 36% Latino, but there are currently no Latino members on the five-seat council, and there has been only one Latino councilmember in the last two decades. Placentia’s at-large election system has prevented Latinos from being fairly represented on the city council. MALDEF demands the system be changed to a district-based system.